Athletic training device



Oct. 30, 1962 J. M. MAGILL ATHLETIC TRAININGADEVICE Filed July 14, 1961 JAMES /M MfG/1. BY

,United States Patent 3,061,306 ATHLETIC TRAINING DEVICE James M. Magill, 1805 Crescent, Denton, Tex. Filed July 14, 1961, Ser. No. 124,181 2 Claims. (Cl. 272-59) This invention relates to an athletic training device, and more specically, to a device particularly adapted for use as an 'aid in the training and conditioning of athletes to take part in the track event of hurdle running.

It is a Yprimary object of this invention to provide a device of the character described above which is effective to decrease injuries resulting from accidental contact between the foot or leg of the trainee and the top board of the hurdle, and will therefore be effective to build conidence on the part of the trainee, and to decrease the danger of any serious bodily injury resultant from accidents of this type during training or practice for this event.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character indicated which is constructed of a flexible or non-rigid material which, upon impact, ilexes to a degree suliicient to prevent serious injury.

It is another object of this invention to provide a training device which is used in conjunction with the existing hurdles customarily used in track events, but is adapted for use in such manner as to present a hurdle top board of standard height from ground level.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described supra which is non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a hurdle assembly showing the device constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention in place thereon, viewed from the forward or leading end thereof;

FIGURE Z is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view thereof taken substantially on the section line 2-2 of FIGURE l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE l, showing the device in perspective from the rear or trailing portion;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, the View illustrating, in phantom lines, flexation of a .portion of the device as occurs in use;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, detail, cross-sectional view taken substantially on the section line 5 5 of FIG- URE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, on a diminished scale; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the device of this invention disassembled from the usual cross-bar of the hurdle.

Proceeding now to the invention as disclosed in the drawing, reference numeral 10 has been applied to generally designate an athletic training device constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention. Throughout the several views of the drawing, it will be noted that the device 10 is shown as applied to a conventional hurdle assembly H formed of a rigid material such as wood, which includes a plurality of vertically disposed support members 12 having horizontal rigidifying elements 14 extending therebetween, and supporting at their upper ends an elongated substantially rectangular top crossbar '16. The top crossbar 16 has a Cice forward end '18, an opposite trailing end 2Q, and upper and lower sides 22, 24. I

As shown in the drawing, the vertical support members 12 are slotted along their forward ends as at 26, in order to receive and loosely support the top crossbar 16.

It is customary that the entire hurdle assembly, including the crossbar -16 be painted white in order to contrast with the normally black appearance of the track which is usually covered with cinder material or the like.

Means (not shown) are generally provided for variance of the height of the top crossbar 16 from ground level, said means being graduated at pre-selected intervals, an example of the interval often employed being a threewinch graduation.

The athletic training device 10, as shown in thedrawing, is formed of a non-rigid or flexible material throughout, Polyethylene or the like having been found to be one desirable material for this purpose. The device 10 comprises an elongated cover element for the crossbar of a length suflicient to extend the full length thereof, the cover element being comprised of a main body portion 23 of substantially U-shaped cross section and including a bight portion 3i) from the sides of which depend a pair of spaced and confronting forward and rear legs 32, 34. In FIGURES 2 and 4, it will be particularly noted that the forward leg 32 is of a height somewhat greater than the height of rear leg 34, and it is of an extent such that it serves to cover the entire forward end 18 of the crossbar 16. The distal end edges 36 and 38 of the forward and rear legs 32, 34, are normally turned or bent inwardly (see FIGURE 6) to insure a secure mounting on the crossbar by a snap it thereover and are tapered so as to present a smooth or rounded appearance. The rear leg 34 has slots 40 formed therein at selected intervals to accommodate the vertical support member 12 of the hurdle assembly H. As shown throughout the several views, the main body portion 28 is adapted for a snap-fit over the top crossbar '16 throughout the full length thereof and, as pointed out in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the outer surface of the forward leg 32 is painted black so that with the device in use, said color generally blends with the background for the device, that is the cinder track. In actual usage, the forward leg covering the top crossbar 16 is not visible to the trainee. Y

Projecting upwardly from the bight portion 30 throughout the full length of the cover element is an upstanding crosspiece 42. The crosspiece 42 is integrally or otherwise connected to the bight 30 at an enlarged lower end portion 44 thereof, and is of generally rectangular form. The crosspiece 42 includes a leading end 46 and an opposite trailing end 48, and an upper end edge 50. It will be noted that the combined height of the bight portion 30 and crosspiece 42 is substantially equal to the height of the top crossbar 16. In use, the portion of the device comprised of the bight portion and crosspiece are of white color such that the normal appearance of a crossbar element is presented. It is desirable that the total height of the bight portion 30 and the crosspiece 42 be substantially equal to the intervals of height variance of the crossbar 16. For example, if three inch intervals are provided, and the standard height is thirty-nine inches, the aforesaid combined height should be three inches so that upon lowering of the crossbar 16 one interval and installation ofthe device 10, the overall height remains at the standard thirty-nine inches.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, should the trainee accidentally contact the crosspiece 42 during practice or training, the flexibility of crosspiece 42 will be effective to prevent injury since it will ex on impact as shown in FIGURE 4.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it Will be understood that this illustration and description are olered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination, with a track hurdle assembly which includes a substantially horizontal, rigid cross bar adapted for location at selected heights above the ground at intervals of preselected dimension, of an athletic training device comprising a cover element for said cross bar, the cover element comprising:

(a) a main body portion of generally U-shaped cross section having a bight portion and a pair of spaced and confronting, depending forward and rear legs such that it is arranged for snapping over the cross bar;

(b) an upstanding, substantially rectangular cross piece tixedly secured to the main body portion and extending the full length thereof; and

(c) the cross piece being of a height equal to said preselected dimension of said intervals.

2. A demountable protective cover for the top cross bar of a track hurdle comprising:

(a) an elongated main body portion extending the full length of the cross bar;

(b) said main body portion including a bight portion and a pair of spaced apart, depending legs whereby it is arranged for snapping over and covering the cross bar;

(c) an upstanding, substantially rectangular cross piece fixedly secured to the main body portion and extending substantially the full length thereof, the cross piece being in generally vertical alignment with the forward end of the cross bar; and

(d) the cross piece being of a color different from that of the forward leg of the main body portion, so as to simulate the appearance of the cross bar.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,649 Pascocello Nov. 26, 1901 732,680 Traxler June 30, 1903 2,718,397 Verkuilen Sept. 20, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Science, April 1939, p. 95 cited. 

